Founded in the late 1940s and incorporated in 1976, the New Jersey Association for Justice (NJAJ) is headquartered in Trenton, New Jersey. NJAJ is a statewide association of almost 2,600 attorneys in private practice and public service, paralegals, law clerks, law students and law school graduates not yet admitted to the bar. NJAJ is dedicated to protecting New Jersey's families by working to preserve and strengthen the laws for safer products and workplaces, a cleaner environment and quality health care.

Who is eligible for membership?

Individuals are eligible for membership in the following categories:

a) Regular Members Any person who is licensed to practice in New Jersey; is of good moral character; is engaged in any field or phase of advocacy; follows the rules of professional conduct of New Jersey; and who is committed and devoted to the concept of a fair trial, the adversary system, and a just result for the injured, the accused, and those whose rights are jeopardized, shall be eligible for regular membership, and shall continue to be a regular member in good standing upon the payment of his periodic dues, and the continued adherence to the objectives of the Association and to the qualifications for membership, and who shall in writing subscribe to those objectives. Provided, however, that no person shall be eligible for or continue his Regular Membership in this Association who, for the most part, represents the defense of personal injury litigation.Membership Application

b) Sustaining Members Regular Members paying Sustaining Members dues, over and above Regular State Member dues, as voted by the Board of Governors.Membership Application

c) Contributory Members Members paying Contributory Member dues, over and above Regular State Member dues, as voted by the Board of Governors.Membership Application

d) Student Members A law student engaged in a course of study at a recognized law school in the State of New Jersey, or outside of the State of New Jersey if the student is a resident of the State of New Jersey, shall be eligible for Student Membership, if he is of good moral character. He shall remain a Student member in good standing as long as he continues the study of law at a law school, pays his periodic dues as set by the Board of Governors and continues to adhere to the objectives of the Association and to the qualifications for student membership.Membership Application

e) Graduate Law Members Residents of the State of New Jersey of good moral character who have graduated from a recognized law school, but have not yet been admitted to the practice of law in any state.Membership Application

f) Firm Membership All members of any one law firm shall be eligible for Firm Membership, dues for which shall be set by the Board of Governors, providing each meets the requirements of being a regular member as defined in (a) above.Membership Application

g) Associate Membership All attorneys not licensed to practice in the State of New Jersey, but who are licensed to practice law in another jurisdiction and who satisfy all other requirements of being a regular member as defined in (a) above.Membership Application

h) Public Service or Military Attorney All attorneys practicing exclusively as employees of any public entity within the State of New Jersey or of the Federal Government including the military services thereof and who satisfy all other requirements of being a regular member as defined in (a) above.Membership Application

i) Law School Professor All attorneys teaching at any accredited law school and who satisfy all other requirements of being a regular member as defined in (a) above.Membership Application

j) Allied Members All investigators whether licensed or unlicensed, all paralegals whether certified or uncertified, all legal secretaries, law office managers, legal typists or other law office employees who are allied or associated with a Regular Member of this Association as defined in (a) above, or a firm as defined under paragraph (f) above and who are sponsored by an individual member of this association shall be eligible for Allied Membership if he is of good moral character. He shall remain an Allied Member in good standing as long as he continues to assist or associate with a regular member of this Association, pays his periodic dues as set by the Board of Governors and continues to adhere to the objectives of this Association and to the qualifications for Allied Membership. Sponsorship shall be the continual responsibility of the individual Regular Member, and such sponsoring member shall be ultimately responsible for the good standing of his sponsored Allied, including but not limited to the payment of membership dues. Allied memberships shall be a class of non-voting members.Membership Application

What are the dues?

ATTORNEYS
Admitted to practice less than one year $50.00
Admitted to practice less than five years $295.00
Admitted to practice five years or more $395.00

FIRM MEMBERSHIP
Any three (3) members of a firm admitted to practice five years or more $1,155.00
Each additional member of the same firm (admitted to practice five years or more) $385.00
Each additional member of the same firm (admitted to practice less than five years) $295.00
Each additional member of the same firm (admitted to practice less than one year) $50.00

ASSOCIATE MEMBER
Not a member of the New Jersey Bar; admitted to practice in a jurisdiction other than New Jersey $295.00

PUBLIC SERVICE ATTORNEY
Practicing exclusively as an employee of the State of New Jersey or the Federal Government $295.00

ALLIED MEMBER
Paralegals & other employees allied with members or member firms $185.00

Student/Graduate Law member/Judicial Law clerk
Attending law school or a law school graduate not yet admitted to the New Jersey bar; or a judicial law clerk (Complimentary)

DEDUCTIBILITY - NJAJ dues are not deductible as charitable contributions for tax purposes, but continue to be deductible as a business expense, except for an estimated 20% which are allocable to nondeductible lobbying expenses.

If I'm already a member of AAJ in Washington, DC does this mean I'm automatically a member of NJAJ?

No. Every state has their own state trial lawyer association. Just because you belong to one organization does not mean you're affiliated with the other.

In This Section

ABOUT NJAJ

Founded in the late 1940s and incorporated in 1976, the New Jersey Association for Justice (NJAJ) is headquartered in Trenton, New Jersey. NJAJ is a statewide association of over 2,700 members in private practice and public service, paralegals, law clerks, law students and law school graduates not yet admitted to the bar. NJAJ is dedicated to protecting New Jersey’s families by working to preserve and strengthen the laws for safer products and workplaces, a cleaner environment and quality health care.